Mechanical parking attendant



Dec. 15, 1964 J. J. SULLIVAN 3,161,275

MECHANICAL PARKING ATTENDANT Filed May 17, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet l wm {MINVENTOR 4O 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 'INVENTOR.

flGENT By John J. uZZU a/z Dec. 15, 1964 Filed May 17, 1960 4|||\.l\\|(|\| 2 1 =5 m w W MINT 1 6 mm 2 Wm Dec. 15, 1964 4 J. J.SULLIVAN 3,161,275

MECHANICAL PARKING ATTENDANT Filed May 17, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V ENTOR.

John J Solid 1/0/2 mriw fiGENT MECHANICAL PARKING ATTENDANT Filed May17, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 flGENT ZZZ Dec. 15, 1964 J. J. SULLIVAN3,161,275

MECHANICAL PARKING ATTENDANT Filed May 17, 1960 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,m Eam 152 14o 2oz lee F I x 216 3E l I INVENTOR. Joby J JuZZLI/QH WOFMUnited States Patent 3,161,275 MEQHANHQAL PARKING ATTENDANT John J.Sullivan, 3920 Granhy Sta, Norfolk, Va. Filed May 17, 1960, Ser. No.29,709 21 Claims. (til. 194--84) This invention relates to meteredautomobile parking, and more particularly to automatic parking meterdevices of the type which physically detain or hold the parked cars and,upon payment of the required fee release the cars for departure, therebyconstituting in effect mechanical parking attendants.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved parkingmeter device functioning as a mechanical parking attendant in that itdetains the automobile in the parking area or space against unauthorizedremoval and releases the automobile for departure upon payment of therequired coin, which device reliably automatically computes the parkingcharge in accordance with the time involved, and receives and utilizesthe coin or coins as a condition to release of the car.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a mechanical parkingattendant device of the type outlined, a simple and fool-proof automaticcar detaining or holding means, and one which is extremely sturdy andreliable in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a car-detaining typemechanical parking attendant, an effective and reliable releasemechanism which is actuated in response to and after payment of therequired fee, so as to free the car for departure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanicalparking attendant in accordance with the foregoing, wherein thedetention of the car does not require contact or engagement with the carchassis or body at any point.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved,simplified coin mechanism for a mechanical parking device, whichmechanism is small and compact, and efiicient in its operation whileinvolving a minimum number of parts or components.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in a mechanicalparking device of the above type, a reliable and yet simple resetmechanism by which the device is reliably conditioned for receivinganother car after the departure of the preceding car.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an automatic parkingdevice or attendant as characterized, which is easy to understand and tooperate, and which does not require any special skill or knowledge inits use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an im provedsemi-automatic coin mechanism for use in a mechanical parking device,wherein physical use of or contact with the coin is utilized to effectthe release, thereby reducing the number of parts and minimizing thelikelihood of malfunctioning of the device.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanicalparking attendant having a reliable signal means, involving both asemaphore type and indicator-light type of signal.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improvedparking attendant device which involves relatively few parts, isuncomplicated in its construction, and economical to fabricate andmanufacture.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification similar characters ofreference are used wherever possible to designate like componentsthroughout the several views, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the improved mechanical attendantor parking device for an automobile Patented Dec. 15, 1964 ice parkingfacility such as a parking lot or the like, as provided by theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view, showing the upperportion of the parking device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

PEG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical View of the lower portion of theparking device, partly in vertical section and partly in frontelevation, illustrating the front wheel locking bar, the wheel releasebar and various associated components.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary View partly in horizontal section and partly intop plan, of the construction shown in FIG. 4.

PEG. 6 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in sideelevation, of the parking device construction shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,the parts being shown in the vacancy positions, ready for occupancy byan automobile which is to be parked.

FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 6, but showing the parking device in itslocking or occupied position, as effected by occupancy by a parkedautomobile.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view partly in vertical section and partly inelevation, showing the automatic control and coin meter portion of thedevice, the various components being in the vacancy positions whichexist prior to parking of an automobile at the device.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a rear view, partly in vertical section and partly inelevation, of the automatic control and coin meter portion of theparking apparatus shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 8 and 9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view, partly in top plan and partly inhorizontal section, of the control and meter portion of the apparatusshown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary top view along the line 1212 of FIG. 8, showinga reset lever of the control and meter portion, prior to being actuatedto release a parked car.

FIG. 13 is a view like FIG. 12, showing the lever in the process ofbeing actuated to release the parked car.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the reset lever andassociated components of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional View, taken on the line 1515 of FIG.14.

Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the present improved mechanicalparking device or attendant shown therein comprises a generally flat,preferably rectangular base member 10 arranged to be supported on afloor or ground surface of a parking lot, parking building or otherfacility, said base member being sufficiently large to enable the frontwheel of an automobile which is to be parked, to be run onto the memberwith appreciable clearance in all horizontal directions. As seen inFIGS. 1 and 2, the base member fill may have side rails or guides 12disposed in spaced, parallel relation, said guides being arranged fordisposition on opposite sides of a front wheel which has been run ontothe base member.

long its front edge the base member 10 has wheellocking and lockreleasing or trip bars 14 and 16 respectively, said bars extendingbetween the side rails 12 and at their ends being supported adjacent thesaid rails.

The mechanical parking device or attendant further comprises an uprightpost or stanchion 18 having at its upper extremity red-light andgreen-light bulbs or domes 20 and 2.2. Below the domes 20, 22 thestanchion 18 has a vertical slot 24 in which there is accommodated asignal arm 26 pivotally mounted by means of a pivot pin 28 and arrangedto occupy an extended, horizontal position as shown in FIG. 3 or else afolded, inoperative position wherein it occupies the slot 24 and ismostly concealed within the stanchionl8. The signal arm 26 may have anysuitable indicia thereon, as for example the word vacancy as illustratedin'FIGURE 3. When the signal arm is extended as'in FIG. 3, indicatingthat there is a vacancy at this particular parking berth, the lightwithin the greenbulb or dome 22 is preferably also energized,

being automatically actuated by parts or components which are operatedin response to release and departure of the vehicle, or parking of thevehicle. 7

Intermediate and upper and lower extremities of the stanchion 18 thereis provided an automatic control and coin meter assemblage 30, saidassemblage including an electric timing mechanism, coin receptacle. andmanual,

control means bywhich the mechanical attendant device may be actuated toreceive the parking fee and to release the parked automobile so that thelatter may be driven from the base member 10. Details of the. assemblage30 are given further along in the description of the device.

At both front corners of thebase member 10 housings or enclosures 32 and34 are provided, said housings being disposed at the outer sides of therails 12 and enclosing mechanisms associated with the wheel locking bar14 and lock release bar 16, and being also connected with the automaticcontrol assemblage 30 and the signal arm 26.

Details of the mechanism disposed in the housing 32' are illustrated inFIGS. 4 through 7. The mechanism in the housing 34 is generally aduplicate for the most part, of the mechanism. in the housing 32, andfunctions in a similar manner; accordingly, details of this duplicatemechanism are omitted 'in the present description, since the structuresand functions are clearly duplications-and since the omission simplifiesthe drawings and descriptions set forth herein. Moreover, details of thecomponents within the housing 34 are not necessary in order to understand and practice the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 4-7, the front wheel locking bar 14 is shown as beingin the form of a roller or pipe section, having end fittings 36'by whichthere is accommodated a shaft 38, the latter at its ends being securedto inwardly bent extremities 40 of pivoted arms 42. As shown, the arms42 are pivotally carried by bolts 44 which may be secured to the siderail structures comprising the rails or guideslZ. The pivoted arms 42are spaced outwardly The retraction of the lower locking slides SGtorelease the wheel locking bar 14 for its raising, locking movement isefiected automatically by the present invention, by actuation of thelock release or trip bar 16 as the latter experiences the weight of thevehicleand is engaged by the front vehicle wheel during driving of thevehicle onto the base member 10.

Referring to FIG. 7, the force of the vehicle wheel on the trip bar 16will cause the latter to swing counterclockwise about an axis defined bya spindle or shaft 7 69 on which a plate portion 62 of the trip bar iseccentrically mounted, and to which it is rigidly attached.

As seen in FIGS. 4-7, the shaft 60'has an upward extension 61 engaged byone end of a coil spring 63 the other end of which extends along thebottom of thehousing .32, thereby to bias the trip bar 16 in a clockwisedirection. The trip bar 16'comprising the plate 62 and the shaft 66 hasdrive means comprising upstanding pins 64 engageable with actuator pinsor lugs 66 carried by the lower locking slides 56 Considering FIGS.'6and 7, upon counterclockwise turning movement of the trip bar 16 aseffected by the vehicle wheel passing over such'bar,.the

' upstanding pins 64 will engage and drive ahead of them from the rails12 by suitable spacer means or bars 46 and springs 56 carried by thebolts 44,.the said spacer. bars extending along the outer sides of therails 12 andbeiug horizontally disposed, and a coil spring 48 0a each ofthe bolts, engaging the pivoted arms 42 and the trip bar 16 biases thepivoted arms 42 counterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The pivoted arms 42 are locked in lowered positions against the actionof the coil springs 48, as seen in FIG. 6, by a pah of lower lockingslides 50 which are guided within the housings 32 and '34 between theside rails As seen in FIG. 6, the lower locking slides 50 have slopingfront edges 54 functioning as camming edges, and

tion of the springs 56, such positions being shown in .FIG. 7 andeffecting a release of the wheel locking bar 14 whereby the latter maybe snapped upward by the pivoted arms 42 under the action of the armsprings 48.

the actuator pins 66 carried by the lower locking slides 56, thereby toeffect a retraction of the said slides to the position shown in FIG. 7.Thus, the effect of traversal of the front portion of the base member 10by the front wheel of the vehicle will be the automatic operation of thewheel locking bar 14, whereby it will snap upward under the actionof'the coil springs 48. Thus, the raised position of the wheel lockingbar 14 will be effected, see FIG. 7, after the front wheel of thevehicle has been driven onto the base member 19. 7

By the present invention, the wheel locking bar 14 after having beensnapped upward to its locking position, is automatically securely heldin the .said position until intentionally released in response topayment of the proper parking fee, by insertion of said fee in, andactuation of the automatic control and coin meter assemblage 30. Theautomatic retention of the wheel locking bar 14 in the raised positionis effected by a latch means comprising two upper locking slides 68respectively disposed in the housings 32 and 34. The upper lockingslides 68 are disposed against the side rails 12, as in the case of thelower locking slides 50, and are also retained in position by theZ-shaped brackets 52. The locking slides 68 have front sloping cammingedges 7 0, and further have locking ledges or shoulders 72 disposedabove the camming edges 70 and arranged to engage the underside of theshaft 38 which constitutes part of the wheel locking bar 14. As seen inFIGS. 6 and 7, the upper locking slides 68 are spring-urged to theforward or extended position shown in FIG. 6 by the same coil springs 56(on the pivot bolts 144) which urge forwardly the lower locking slides59.

, shaft38 of the bar will strike thecamming edges 79 of 12 and Z-shapedbrackets 52 disposed within the housings.

the locking slides 68, effecting a retraction of the said slides againstthe action of the springs 56, whereby the. shaft 38 will move past thecamming edges and be engaged by the locking ledges 72 upon the freedslides 68 again shifting forward under the action of the springs 56.

The lower lock-ing slides 56 are confined by and engage the spacer bars46, as seen in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7. The upper locking slides 68 rest on andare guided by the spacer bars 46, as seen in these. figures.

It will be understood that, by the above organization, the wheel lockingbar 14 when in its raised position and locked therein by the. upperlocking slides 63, will be securely retained and held againstunintentional downward movement, and the raised position of this barwill constitute an obstruction at the rear of the front vehicle wheel,thereby effectively locking the vehicle in its parked position. When itis desired to release the vehicle for departure from the parking deviceit is only necessary to effect a retraction of the upper locking slides68, as by shifting said slides from right to left considering FIGS. 6and 7, in order to release the wheel locking bar 1 Upon such release,the driving of the vehicle from the base member 10 will result in thefront vehicle wheel forcing downward and passing over the wheel lockingbar 14. Such action will cause the shaft 38 of the locking bar to engagethe camimng edges 54 of the lower locking slides 50 and to shift thelatter from right to left as seen in FIGS 6 and 7. Upon the shaft 38passing downward below the camming edges 54, the lower locking slides 59will again be shifted to the extended position of PEG. 6, locking thebar 14 in its lowered position.

By the present invention, the driving of the vehicle wheel onto the basemember 10 not only effects an automatic locking of the vehicle by virtueof the wheel locking bar 14 snapping upward and being positivelydetained in the raised locking position of FIG. 7, but also effects anautomatic starting of a metering and coin receptacle mechanism in theassemblage 30, this marking the commencement of the parking interval.This is accomplished by an extension 74- on the pivoted arm 42 shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the said extension 74 being connected with an extensioncoil spring 76 which is in turn connected to a vertical link 78 passingupward through the post or stanchion 18, which latter is hollow for thispurpose.

When the wheel locking bar 14 is in its lowered position as shown inFIG. 6, the vertical link '78 is in a raised position, and when thelocking bar 14 is in its raised position as seen in FIG. 7, the verticallink 78 is in a lowered position.

Considering now FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 showing the automatic control and coinmeter assemblage 30, this comprises a housing or case 30 have acentrally disposed main shaft assemblage 82, said assemblage comprisinga compound spindle constituted of a number of separate and independentlymovable components, as follows: Passing through a central opening in thefront wall 84 of the case 8i) is a short shaft 86 having rigidly securedto its exterior end an operating handle 88. Within the case St? of theshaft 36 rotatably bears in a bushing 93 on which there is carried amovable computer member in the form of a coin Wheel M. The shaft 8-5 hasan axial bore 94 at its inner end, which receives a projecting pin 96 ofa rigid composite stud fixedly mounted on a wall 93 of a synchronouselectric timing motor and gear reduction unit constituting a power means1% carried by a partition plate 162 mounted on a rectangular framework19 disposed within the case fill. The rigid composite stud comprises apost 196 rigidly affixed to the wall 925 and having a threaded axialbore in which there is received and screwed the threaded end of theprojecting pin 96. ()n the threaded pin 96 there is a cylindricalflanged body'lilb which rotatably carries a collar 110. The collar 11%is spaced from the bushing 91} by the flange of the cylindrical body1438 of the composite stud. By such construction, the shaft 86 isturnably mounted in the case 86, being supported by the front case wall84, and by the projecting pin 95 of the composite stud structurecomprising the post 1% and the cylindrical body 168. The coin wheel 92is also turnable with respect to the shaft 86, as will be understood.

Turnably mounted on the composite stud structure is a hollow drivingshaft having aligned tubular parts 112 and 114, said parts beingthreadedly secured together as shown in FIG. 9 and fixedly carrying adriving member 116. The hollow driving shaft 112, 114 has rigidlyaffixed to it a gear 118 which meshes with a pinion 1259 driven, throughgearing not shown, by the synchronous electric timing motor and gearreduction unit ltltl. The hollow driving shaft having the alignedtubular parts 112, 11 i is turnable about the rigid composite stud 106,108, 96, and accordingly operation of the timing motor unit 101 willeffect a full rotation of the driving member 116. Adjoining the drivingmember 116 and between the latter and the coin wheel 92 there isprovided, rotatably mounted on the flanged body 183 a wheel driving discor spider 122 having a resilient facing 124 of rubber or rubber-likematerial. The wheel driving disc 122 has a driving lug 126 (FIG. 8)which is engageable with a cooperable driving lug 123 carried by thecoin wheel 92. Thus, a uni-directional drive may be readily establishedbetween the wheel driving disc 122 and the coin wheel 92 after there hasbeen effected a slight extent of counterclockwise turning of the drivingdisc 122 as seen in FIG. 8, which brings the driving lugs 126 and 128into engagement with each other.

By the present invention, a releasible drive is established between thetiming unit Mill and the coin wheel 92 through the medium of the pinion120, gear 118, driving shaft parts 112, 114 and driving wheel 116 inconjunction with the wheel driving disc 122 having the facing 124. Toestablish such drive, there is provided a clutch Wheel 130 which isturnably carried on the driving shaft part 112 and has a plurality ofdriving pins 132 rigid therewith, carrying compression springs 134, thesaid pins extending through aligned apertures in the driving wheel 116and being engageable with the resilent facing 124 of the driving disc122 when the clutch wheel 130 is shifted to the right from the positionshown in FIG. 9, thereby to project to a greater extent the driving pins132 through the driving wheel 116.

It will be understood that the clutch wheel 130 is carried on the hollowdriving shaft by virtue of the positioning of the driving pins 132 bythe driving wheel 116. The springs 134 tend to maintain the clutch wheel130 in engagement with the gear 118, whereby the driving pins 132 areout of engagement with the resilient clutch facing 124 of the wheeldriving disc 122. Thus, normally the wheel 92 remains at rest, eventhough the synchronous timing unit 1% is continually energized andoperated. For such condition, the driving wheel 116 and clutch wheel13%) will rotate at a very slow rate, but motion will not be impartedtherefrom to the wheel driving disc 122 which has the one way drivingconnection with the coin wheel 92. However, such driving connection willbe effected at the time that the front wheel of the vehicle is drivenonto the base member 10 over the trip bar 16 which effects the raisingand locking movement of the wheel locking bar 14. It will be recalledthat such raising movement of the wheel locking bar 14 results indownward movement of the vertical link 78 passing through the stanchion18. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the link 78 is joined to a connectorstrip 138 which has a pivotal driving connection with a lever 140pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 142. The lever 140 constitutes part ofa U-shaped clutch actuator member 144, FIG. 10, which has a pivoted arm146 carried by a pivot 148. The pivots 142 and 148 are mounted onL-section'frame members 159 and 152 which are secured to the rectangularframework 104 within the case 80. The clutch actuator member 144 hasupwardly extending lugs 154 which are engageable with the lowerextremities of depending legs 156 of an inverted U-shaped clutchactuator 15%. The clutch actuator 158 is carried by a spindle 160 whichhas a bearing in the frame members 150, 152. Intermediate their ends thedepending legs 156 are engageable with push rods 162 which arelongitudinally shiftable and extend in directions parallel to the mainshaft assemblage 82. The push rods 162 pass through the L-section framemembers 150, 152, and through the partition plate 1'92, having a bearingin each of these. The push rods 162 at their inner ends are arranged toengage the clutch wheel 13d, and upon said rods being longitudinallyshifted, they will move the clutch wheel 130 to the downward movementwill swing the lever 14%) clockwise as viewed in FIG. 9, eiiecting acounterclockwise swinging Y of the clutch actuator 158 whereupon thelatter will shift inward the push rods 162,. such inward movement beingfrom left to right considering FIG. 9 or into the paper considering FIG.10. In consequence of the foregoi the parking ofthe automobile willinitiate aslow movement of the coin wheel 92, such movement beingcounterclockwise as viewed in FIG; 8.

As seen in FIGS. 8 and/9, the coin wheel 92 has a phirality ofequi-spaced detent pins 166 disposed around its periphery and extendingaxially 'from the rear of the wheel. Thedetent pins 166 are engageableand cooperable with a spring-charged'detent arm 168 carried by a pivotpin 170 and biased in a clockwise direction by a helical extensionspring 172. The detent arm 168 has a camming nose portion 174 which isengageable with the I detent pins 166 and has the effect of holding thecoin wheel 92 in any of a number of consecutive, distinct positions eachrelated by a given angular distance. FIGURE 8 indicates the startingposition for the coin wheel 92,

and for such position the driving lugs 126 and 128 are shown asseparated a slight extent.

Upon the clutch of the mechanism becoming engaged as explained above,the wheel driving disc122 will advance counterclockwise (with the coinwheel 92 remaining stationary and motionless) until the lugs 126 and 128become engaged. Upon this occurring, the driving disc 122 will pick upthe coin wheel 92 and effect a counterclockwise turning movement of thelatter, considering FIG. 8. When any one ofthe detent pins 166 passesthe point of the nose portion 174 of the'detent arm 16%,,

the action of the latter will be tosuddenly and quickly advance the coinwheel 92v ahead of the wheel driving disc 122 until the next discreteangular position is attained, as controlled by the detent arm 168.

The wheel driving disc 122 will continue its slow driving movement, andwill again bring into engagement the driving lugs 126 and 128.Thereafter the coin wheel 92 will again be driven slowlycounterclockwise until the next detent pin 166 has passed the sharppoint of the nose portion 174 of the detent arm 168. The coin wheel 92will again he suddenly quickly moved to its next discrete position, andso on.

A light spring means, comprising a chain 178 connected to the peripheryof the coin wheel 92 and a spiral-spring driven wheel 180 which gentlypulls on the chain 178, biases the coin wheel 92 in a; clockwisedirection as seen in FIG. 8. This biasing action is only sufiicient toreturn the coin wheel 92 to its starting position as shown in FIG. 8upon the said wheel being wholly freed of the retarding influence'of thedetent-arm 168 and thedriving influence of the driving disc 122 anddriving clutch assem blage above described.

It will be understood that upon release of the clutch, and when thedetent arm 163 is removed from tengage- 'ment with the detent pins 166,the coin wheel 92 will be returned and will drive ahead of it thedriving disc 122 t by virtue-of the one-way driving connection betweenthe lugs 12 6, 128.. A stationary stop 182 may be arranged -in the case80, for engagement with the driving lug 126 to limit the return movementof the Wheel driving disc 122, see FIG.' 8. i

In accordance with the present invention, the coin wheel 92 has aplurality of coin slots 184, 186, 188,190 and 192 disposed in itsouterperiphery and extending generally radially inward into the wheel.The slots 184- 192 are all of different lengths, and are arranged sothat each succeeding slot will. hold one more coinrthan the precedingslot; Thus, the dime, the slot186 two dimes, the slot 188 three dimes,etc.

coin slot 184 may hold one The coin slots 184-192 are, consecutivelypresented to a coin window or opening 195 provided in the top wall 196of the case 88. Also, the coin slots 184-192 are spaced apart the samedistance as the detent pins 166, and the detent arm 168 is sopositionedthat with relation to the size of the coin window 194 there will alwaysbe positioned in said window one coin slot, readily accessible forreceiving coins, for the various discrete angular positions of the coinwheel 92 with the exception of the initial or starting position of thecoin wheelas seen in FIG. 8.

Accordingly it will now be understood that with the above construction,as soon as an automobile is driven onto the base 10, the coin wheel 92will be started turning with a stepped advancing movement whereby thecoin slots 184-192 may be consecutively presented at the coin window194. The coin .wheel 92 has a cam 197 which opens a switch 199m serieswith the timing unit 1% to halt the letter when the .last slot 192 isbrought to the window194. Thus, the unit 180 never advances the wheel 92past this point. V

In accordance with the invention, the presence of coins in any one ofthe coin slots 184-192 to the extent where the slot is completelyfilled, is utilized to enable the car owner or user of the parkingdevice to actuate the control mechanism, by manipulation of theoperating handle 88, in order to effect a release of the automobile bycausing a retraction of the upper locking slides 68 so as to free thewheel locking bar 14. To accomplish this, the shaft 86 connected withthe operating handle 88 is provided with a coin engagea-ble driv- 224 isso arranged that the outermost coin in any of the slots 186492 willproject into the groove 204, as

well as the single coin in the slot 184. The coinengageable driving arm200 has a rigid driving connection with the operating handle 88, andsaid arm and handle are returned to a starting position as shown in FIG.8 by virtue of the provision of a helical spring 204a connected at oneend to a pin 21% on the shaft 86 and at the other end to a fixed bar 206rigid in the case 84). In the starting position the driving arm isengaged and positioned by a stop member 214 rigid with the case 80. Thestop member 214 limits the arcuate movement of the driving arm tovirtually 180 from the position shown in FIG.

200 is engaged will extend in a downward, coin dis charging directionwhereby the coin, when freed of any restraining influence from thedriving arm 28%] will drop into the bottom of the case 80. v

- Depending upon which coin slot 184-192 is presented at the coin window195, the operator places the required number of coins, such as dimes,into the slot to completely till it. 'The operator then turns theoperating handle 88 counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 8, whereupon thedriving arm 260 will become engaged with the coin located at theperiphery of the coin wheel 92, thereby effecting a driving connectionbetween the arm and the coin wheel. Continued turning movement of thehandle 88 will now enable the operator to turn the coin 92 no longerexists, and the Wheel 92 will be returned toits initial or startingposition shown in FIG. 8 under the act-ion of the spring chargedchain173j The above described turning movement of the coin wheel 92bythe operator is utilized to effect a release of the upper locking'slides68 and release of the wheel lockingbar 1 4, in thefollowing manner: a

One of the detent pins 166 has and pivotally carries a driving dog 216which is gravity controlled and has a projecting finger 218. Upon thecoin wheel 92 making approximately a quarter of a revolutioncounterclockwise, the finger 218 will project to the left from theperiphery of the wheel 92 as seen in FIG. 8. Such finger can thus engageone end of a lever 220 carried by a pivot 222, and can swing the leverclockwise as viewed in FIG. 9. The lever 220 at its other end ispivotally connected to a link 224 which extends downward through thestanchion 18 and is connected with a bell crank 226 carried by a pivotpin 228 within the housing 32. The bell crank 226 is connected by meansof a link 239 with the pin 71 carried by the upper locking slide 68shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The movement of the slide 68 shown in FIG. 6 is coordinated with themovement of the similar locking slide 68 in the housing 34 by means of agenerally U-shaped tie bar 232 having upstanding pins 234 which arepivotally connected to these upper locking slides. The tie bar 232 bearson the base member Ill, and when the said bar swing counterclockwise asviewed in FIGS. 6 and 7, it efiects simultaneous retracting movement ofthe two upper locking slides 68 (from right to left).

From the foregoing it will be seen that upon the coin wheel 92 beingactuated in response to turning of the operating handle 38 after depositof the necessary amount of coins in the proper coin slot 1844M. thedriving dog 216 will actuate the lever 220 and link 224, the latter inturn operating the bell crank 226 and through the link 230 the upperlocking slide 68 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 to retract the same. Retractingmovement of such slide will effect a corresponding simultaneousretracting movement of the remaining upper locking slide 68, whereuponrelease of the wheel locking bar 14 is efiected.

The invention further provides a latch member in the form of a latchingdetent or hook 236 which is pivotally mounted in the housing 32 and isreceivable in a cooperable locking notch 238 of the upper slide 68, toretain the two slides in their fully retracted positions as eifected bythe link 230. The locking detent hook 236 is spring biasedcounterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7, and as seen in FIG. 7 is inreadiness for entering the notch 238 upon the locking slide 68 beingfully withdrawn from right to left by the link 238. The detent hook 236has a rear extension 246 which is engageable by a pin 242 on the rearextension 74 of the pivoted arm 42 at the time that the arm is swungclockwise in response to departure of the automobile from the parkingdevice. As seen in FIG. 6, the return of the wheel locking bar 14 andthe pivoted arm 42 to their initial (vacancy) positions also effects aclockwise movement of the detent hook 236 to an inoperative positionwhereupon the upper locking slides 68 are free to be again extendedunder the action of the coil springs 56.

It will be noted that after the driving dog 216 has tripped the lever220, the dog will move past the said lever upon continued turn-ingmovement of the coin wheel 92 as effected by actuation of the operatinghandle 88. When the full extent of movement of the coin wheel isrealized, through approximately 180", the coins will be positioned inreadiness for their discharge from the slot. The return of the coinwheel 92 to its initial starting position under the action of the chain178 will not be hampered by the presence of the driving dog 216,inasmuch as such dog is loosely pivotally mounted and influenced whollyby gravity. Upon the driving dog, during the return of the coin wheel 92to its starting position, striking the lever 220 the sloping edge of thefinger 218 of the dog will have a camming action which will cause thedog to pivot counterclockwise whereby it will swing out of the path andway of the lever 226. Thus, the driving dog 216 may bypass the lever 7%upon the return of the coin wheel 92.

After the operator has completed the counterclockwise turning movementof the handle 88 and effected release of the vehicle in the abovedescribed manner, he releases his grasp upon the handle whereupon thelatter will be returned to its initial starting position under theaction of the spring 204a. Disengagemcnt of the driving arm 200 from thecoin it has engaged will free this coin and any others so that it orthey may now fall out of the slot in the coin wheel 92. The coin wheelis still retained in its counterclockwise rotated position by the detentarm 168. When the vehicle is driven on the base member 10, the return ofthe wheel locking bar 14 to its lower position as seen in FIG. 6 permitsthe link 78 to shift upward again. This will cause a counterclockwiseturning of the lever 14-0 as seen in FIG. 9, whereupon the drivingclutch involving the pins 132 and clutch facing 124 will becomedisengaged. The said movement of the lever and the accompanying movementof the clutch actuator memher 144 is utilized to disengage the detentarm 168 from the detent pins 166 of the coin wheel 92. Such disengagingmovement of the detent arm 168 is accomplished by an extension 2 56provided on the arm 146 of the actuator member 14-4. As seen in FIG. 8,the extension 246 upon experiencing upward movement in response toupward movement of the link 78, will effect a counterclockwise turningmovement of the detent 168, whereupon the nose portion 174 becomesdisengaged from the detent pins 166. When this occurs, the coin wheel 92(with the clutch disengaged as above described) is free to return to itsstarting position under the action of the spring charged chain 178.

The raising and lowering movement of the vertical link 78 is utilized toactuate the vacancy signal arm 26 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Connected tothe connector strip 138 is a link or cable 258, said link beingpivotally connected with the signal arm 26 in such a manner that the armis raised when the link 78 has raising movement, and is lowered when thelink 78 is pulled downward in response to driving of an automobile ontothe base member 10.

An electric switch device 252 is provided, arranged to be actuated inresponse to movement of the pivoted arm 42 shown in PEGS. 6 and 7. Whenthe arm 42 is in the vacancy position of FIG. 6, the light within thegreen light globe 22 (FIG. 1) is energized. When the arm 42 is in theoccupied position of FIG. 7, the light within the green globe 22 isextinguished. The light within the red light globe is energized by aswitch 253 which is closed by a pin 254 on the upper locking slide 68when the latter is in fully retracted position, as effected by the link23! in response to turning of the coin wheel 92 by the operator, andprior to the parked car being driven oh. Preferably, the light withinthe red light globe 20 has a flasher connected with it, so as to providea flashing type signal, which will now indicate that a car is to leavethe parking device.

The red blinker or flasher light constitutes an important safety factor.It provides a warning signal, from the time that the coin is depositedand the handle 88 turned to release the car, until the operator backsthe car out. This latter operation depresses the locking bar 14 andeffects a release of the upper locking slides 68 as a consequence,whereby vthe red flasher is extinguished. Accordingly, the red flashinglight gives notice to an oncoming car that a parked car is about toleave the parking space.

In this connection it will be noted that the stanchion 18 with thesignal light at its top is visible at all times throughout the entireparking area, both night and day. This is an important feature, since itis not possible at all times to ascertain the occupancy of all of theparking spaces or times of departure of the cars, especially in thoseinstances where small foreign cars are intermixed with the higher andlarger domestic cars. Accordingly, if the red and green signal lightswere not provided atop the stanchion 18 it would be necessary for anoperator to drive up and down the various aisles of a parking llfacility in order to determine which spaces are available. However, withthe red and green signals raised above the parked cars, the driver cango directly to any vacant space observed.

It will now be understood from the foregoing that I have provided anovel and improved mechanical parking atttendant having many desirablefeatures and advantages.

The device automaticallylocks a car which is parked, and, releases thecar upon payment of the required fee, which is computed automatically.The meter resets itself automatically upon departure of the car.However, whereas the timing is efiected electrically and the computingof thefee is automatically done, the car is released by a manual act,through mechanical linkages and parts,

thereby avoiding any holdup or delaywhich might other- 16counterclockwise as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, shifting the slides 50 fromright to left and releasing the locking bar 14. This bar under theaction of the springs 48 snaps upward, camming the slides 68 backward,and is locked in the raised position as the slides 68 are again extendedunder the bar 14. Such action extinguishes the green light, pullsdownward the link 7 8 and efiects a clockwise turn- 'ing of the lever14% (FIG. 9) and a counterclockwise movement of the U-shaped clutchactuator 158,.driving inward the push rods 162 which shift the clutchwheel 130 to the right from the position of FIG. 9. The driving pins 132engage the clutch facing 124 andcouple the driving wheel 116 which ispowered by the timing unit 100 to the driving disc 142, which, throughlugs 126 and 128, has a driving connection with the coin wheel 92. The.coin wheel advances counterclockwise as seen in FIG. 8 presentingconsecutively the coin' slots 184-192 (by virtue of the stepped movementeffected by the detent arms 168) to the coin window 195. When the car isto be released, the'proper number of coins is placed in the slotpresented, and the operating handle SS is turned counterclockwise (FIG.8) causing the driving arm 2% to engage the coin at the periphery of thecoin wheel 92 and effecting a driving engagement between the handle andthe ,coin wheel. -Continued turning of the handle and coin wheel causesthe driving dog 21am trip the lever 22% clockwise as seen in FIG. 9,this causing the link 224 to be pulled upward, rotating the bell crank226 clockwise and retracting the upper locking slides 68. The redblinker light is now made operative. The driving of the car from thebase member depresses the wheel locking bar 14 whereby the latter isagain latched in the lower position shown in FIG. 6 and the upperlocking'slides 68 released from the hooks 236 for advance. The redblinker light is extinguished and the green light energized again Thecontinued movement of the handle 88 and wheel 92 brings the coin slot toa lower downwardly inclined position, and

upon release of the handle 38 and return of the same and the driving arm2% to the'starting position under the action of the spring 204a thecoins will fall from the coin slot into a suitable receptacle providedin the case 89 under the coin wheel 92. 7

Upon the wheel locking bar 14 being latched in the lowtrip membercomprises position to release the car for departure.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claimsand portions of the improvement may be used Without others. 1

I claim: v

1. In a mechanical attendant for an automobile parking facility, incombination, a car-wheel engageable locking bar movable between raisedlocking and lowered un locking positions, said bar normally occupyingits lowered position wherein the car wheel is enabled to pass over it; atrip member separate from, movable independently of and disposedalong-side said locking bar and movable upward and downward, said memberbeing adapted to have the car wheel pass over it and to depress it afterthe wheel has first passed over the locking bar; and mechanical meansincluding a spring power means continually bias- ,ing said locking barto its raised, locking position and including a mechanicalforce-transmitting device engageable with the trip member and lockingbar and actuated by downward movement of said trip'member as the wheeldepresses it, for effecting a shifting of said locking bar from itsnormal lowered position to the raised position wherein it constitutes ablock for the car wheel.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which there are slide latchesfor holding thelocking bar in its lowered position, said latchesconstituting part of the-mechanical means interconnecting the tripmember and locking bar for effecting an upward shifting of the lockingbar and said latches being drivingly connected to the trip member.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the a tunablehorizontally disposed bar arranged parallel to the locking bar andtiltable about a fixed axis, said trip member having a wheel-engageableportion which is substantially vertically movable to effect tilting ofthe bar.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 in which there are slidelatchesat both of the ends of the locking bar, for holding the same in itslowered position, said latches constituting part of the mechanical meansinterconnecting the trip member and locking bar, and in which the tripbar has drive means at both of its ends, engageable with the slidelatches to actuate the latter. 7

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which there is a movablecomputer member, in which there are power means connected with thecomputer member and control means actuated by the locking bar inresponse to upward shifting of the latter, for rendering said powermeans operative to effect timed advancing movement of the computermember, in which there are releasable latch means cooperable with thelocking bar for locking the same in raised position, in which there arecoin-receptacle means rendered operative by advance of the computermember, for holding a coin, and in which there are means renderedoperative by a coin in said coin-receptacle means and operativelyconnected with the-computer member and latch means, for effectingrelease of saidlatch means whereby the locking-bar may be returned toits lowered 6. The invention as defined in claim 5 in which there is asemaphore signal and actuator means connected with the said controlmeans, for actuating the semaphore sigrial in response to shifting ofthe locking bar.

ered position shown inFlG. 6, the raising movementof the vertical link'78 will effect a counterclockwise releasing movement of the detent arm16% whereupon the coin wheel 92 will be free for return to its initialstarting position under the action of the spring charged chain 178. Atthe same time, the raising of the link '78 will release the clutch,whereupon the driving connection between the coin wheel 92 and thetiming unit 100 is broken.

. 7. The invention as defined in claim 5 in which there is an uprighthollow stanchion disposed adjacent the locking bar, at the upper portionof which stanchion the computer member is carried, and in which'thecontrol means and the means for effecting release of the latch'meanscomprise elongate links passing'through the hollow stanchion. i

' 8. The invention as defined in claim 5 in which the control meansincludes an extensible spring link connected with the locking bar, andincludes a driving clutch for said computer member, controlled by saidspring link.

9. The invention as defined in claim 5, inwhich the computermember'comprises a coin wheel having the said coin-receptacle means inthe form of slots in its periphery,

13 said slots being of graduated lengths and being adapted to receive agraduated series of coins, and in which the coincontrolled meanscomprises .a movable drive member located adjacent the coin Wheel andadapted to engage the outermost coin of any slot, thereby to effect adriving connection with the coin wheel.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9, in which the power meanscomprises a timer mechanism and in which the control means comprises aclutch for coupling said timer mechanism to the coin wheel to advancethe latter.

11. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which there are meansincluding a pair of slides for releasably locking the locking bar in itsraised position, and in which there are release means including a coinreceptacle, for retracting said slides to release the locking bar aftera coin has been placed in said receptacle.

12. The invention as defined in claim 11 in which the slides are locatedat opposite ends of the locking ear and in which there is a turnable tierod interconnecting said slides for simultaneous movements.

13. The invention as defined in claim 11 in which there is an electricswitch means and a circuit controlled by the locking bar, and in whichthere is an electric lamp connected with said circuit and energized whenthe locking bar is lowered.

14. The invention as defined in claim 11, in which there is an electricswitch means and a circuit controlled by one of said locking slides, andin which there is an electric lamp connected with said circuit andenergized when the slide is retracted for release of the locking bar.

15. The invention as defined in claim 11, in which there are meansincluding a latching detent member cooperable with one of the slides,for holding the slides in retracted position, said latching deten-tmember being cooperable with the locking bar and being shifted toinoperative position when the bar is moved to its lowered position.

16. The invention as defined in claim 15 in which the coin receptaclecomprises a Wheel having slots for receiving coins, and in which therelease means further comprises a manually operable arm engageable witha coin in the wheel, for effecting turning of the wheel, and comprisesmeans to actuate the slides in response to turning of said wheel.

17. The invention as defined in claim 16 in which the means to actuatethe slides in response to turning of the wheel includes a driving dogpivotally carried by the wheel and a linkage system connected with thslides and actuated by said dog as the wheel is turned.

18. In a mechanical attendant for an automobile parking facility, incombination, a timer mechanism; a coin wheel having slots spaced alongits periphery and extending toward the wheel center from the periphery,said slots being of graduated depths and being adapted to receive agraduated series of coins; means providing a fixed coinreceiver slotadjacent the wheel periphery, whereby coins are guided for insertion inthe slots of the wheel; a wheelactuating arm movable along the wheelperiphery past the said slots, said arm being engageable with the lastof a series of coins filling any one slot, thereby to effect a drivingconnection between the arm and wheel and means actuated by a car wheeland including a clutch, for coupling said timer mechanism to the coinWheel to advance the latter for presenting said slots consecutively atthe said coin receiver slot,

19. The invention as defined in claim 18 in which the said meansactuated by a car wheel includes a locking bar which raises behind thecar Wheel and locks in raised position to lock the wheel againstretrograde movement, and in which advance of the coin wheel to aforemost position releases the locking bar for lowering movement torelease the car wheel.

20. In a mechanical attendant for an automobile parking facility, incombination, a timer mechanism; a coin Wheel having slots spaced alongits periphery and extending toward the wheel center from the periphery,said slots being of graduated depths and being adapted to receive agraduated series of coins; means providing a fixed coinreceiver slotadjacent the Wheel periphery, whereby coins are guided for insertion inthe slots of the wheel; a wheel actuating arm movable along the wheelperiphery past the said slots, said arm being engageable with the lastof a series of coins filling any one slot, thereby to effect a drivingconnection between the arm and wheel and means actuated by a car wheeland including a clutch, for coupling said timer mechanism to the coinwheel to advance the latter for presenting said slots consecutively atthe said coin receiver slot; and means responsive to the coin wheelattaining a predetermined advanced position, for rendering inoperativethe timer mechanism.

21. In a mechanical attendant for an automobile parking facility, incombination, a car-wheel engageable locking bar movable between raisedlocking and lowered unlocking positions, said bar normally occupying itslowered position wherein the car wheel is enabled to pass over it; atrip member separate from and disposed along-side said locking bar andmovable upward and downward, said member being adapted to have the carwheel pass over it and to depress it after the wheel has first passedover the locking bar; and means responsive to downward movement of saidtrip member as the wheel depresses it, for effecting a shifting of saidlocking bar from its normal lowered position to the raised positionwherein it constitutes a block for the car wheel; means including a pairof slides for releasably locking the locking bar in its raised position;release means including a coin receptacle, for retracting said slide torelease the locking bar after a coin has been placed in said receptacle;and slide bars having cam means for holding the locking bar in itslowered position, said bar being engageable with the cam means toretract the slide bars and bypass the latter when moving to its loweredposition, said slide bars constituting part of the means for effectingan upward shifting of the locking bar and being operably connected tothe trip member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,726,724 Warren Sept. 3, 1929 2,015,607 Shinn Sept. 24, 1935 2,147,520Bullock Feb. 14, 1935 2,328,858 Sweetland Sept. 7, 1943 2,536,178 HaynieJan. 2, 1951 2,735,202 King Feb. 21, 1956 2,805,498 Mosher Sept. 10,1957 2,913,906 Sinclair Nov. 24, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 726,207 GreatBritain Mar. 16, 1955

18. IN A MECHANICAL ATTENDANT FOR AN AUTOMOBILE PARKING FACILITY, INCOMBINATION, A TIMER MECHANISM; A COIN WHEEL HAVING SLOTS SPACED ALONGITS PERIPHERY AND EXTENDING TOWARD THE WHEEL CENTER FROM THE PERIPHERY,SAID SLOTS BEING OF GRADUATED DEPTHS AND BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AGRADUATED SERIES OF COINS; MEANS PROVIDING A FIXED COINRECEIVER SLOTADJACENT THE WHEEL PERIPHERY, WHEREBY COINSARE GUIDED FOR INSERTION INTHE SLOTS OF THE WHEEL; A WHEELACTUATING ARM MOVABLE ALONG THE WHEELPERIPHERY PAST THE SAID SLOTS, SAID ARM BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LASTOF A SERIES OF COINS FILLING ANY ONE SLOT, THEREBY TO EFFECT A DRIVINGCONNECTION BETWEEN THE ARM AND WHEEL AND MEANS ACTUATED BY A CAR WHEELAND INCLUDING A CLUTCH, FOR COU-